Thursday, 8 May 2014

Reviews: Our Favourite TV Shows

As avid watchers of many TV shows and
often embarking on series marathon's, Josh and I thought we would share with
you our favourite TV shows.

Breaking Bad

Science
teacher Walter White is diagnosed with lung cancer and in a bid to make enough
money so that his family won't have to struggle after his death he becomes a
meth cook.

L: It took me quite a few episodes to get into Breaking Bad as
I just wasn't feeling it at first. However I quickly got hooked and we raced
through to the mid season break of season 5 and had to wait for the second half
to begin which was very distressing! We've just rewatched the whole series and
it's just as good the second time around. It's a little far fetched but it's
full of action and suspense and even the odd bit of humour which makes it a
winner all round. There's some amazing characters in the show and some catchy
tunes as well.

J: My brother recommended the series to me and from the first
episode I was pretty hooked. I mean, Hal from Malcom in the Middle zooming
around the desert in a gas mask and tighty-whiteys is bound to draw you in!
It's a show about transformation, Walt turns from a mild mannered under the
thumb kind of guy into Scarface, and it's great from start to finish...probably
one of the most consistently good TV series I've ever seen. And there's
some pretty badass characters in there too: Gus, Mike, Hector...*ding ding*!

Game of Thrones

Based
on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones
delves into a fantasy world where the noble families of the realm are battling
for control of the Iron Throne.

L: Again another series that took me a few episodes
to get into before I was hooked and racing home from uni each day to watch
more! There's just so much going on in every episode which is great but it also
means you have to pay serious attention at all times, this isn't a series to
pop on in the background. I really like that the stories of several different
characters/houses are all entwined to create an action packed fantasy series
full of suspense. Oh and girls, Jon Snow is pretty easy on the eye too!

J: Definitely one you've got to be dedicated to and pay
attention to. The thick and rich plot is crammed with twists and turns and
details and nuances and intricacies that it sometimes makes it a little hard to
follow while at the same time making this unbelievable world somehow credible
and believable. And there are some awesome characters! Tyrion Lannister is a
witty 'imp' you always end up rooting for, Joffery Barathion you just love to
hate, and Daenerys Targaryen...well, she can be the queen to my throne any day.

Hannibal

Will
Graham has the unique ability to visualise himself commiting the murders he
investigates whilst this is a useful tool for the FBI it takes it's toll on
Will who forms a relationship with psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter, a
cannabilist serial killer.

L: I started watching this by myself when we moved back home
from uni, it wasn't something Josh had ever expressed an interest in but I
thought it was worth a shot. The first episode was a little slow going but I
could see some potential so I stuck with it. By the third episode I was on the
phone to Josh exclaiming how could it was and that he really should give it a
go. After the first couple of episodes he told me not to watch anymore without
him so I obviously did a good job of winning him over. Hannibal is deliciously
dark and gory and although the viewer is ahead of Will Graham in working things
out it still manages to create suspense and keep you hooked. There's also
something about Hannibal in his sharp suits that is rather attractive...

J: I started watching this because Lauren
kept banging on about it. I wasn't hooked by the first episode as I am with
several other shows, but it's a slow burner and eventually had me hooked and
looking forwards to the next offering. Apart from Will and of course Hannibal
there isn't much fleshing out (excuse the pun) of any other characters. Still,
Hannibal has some pretty cool suits, and he finds some morbidly fascinating
ways to kill people so it's all good. Not the best telly show ever but
certainly not the worst.

Band of
Brothers

Based of
the true history of Easy Company during WWII, Band of Brothers follows the unit
right from the airborne landing in Normandy to the war's end.

L: Oh Band of Brothers I do love you! Josh told me many times
how good this series was and I refused to listen and I don't know why because I
love history stuff. At first I found it difficult to watch Captain Sobel
without shouting 'It's Ross from Friends!' (actually I still do that!) but I
have to say Band of Brothers is a pretty amazing show. It puts you right in
there with Easy Company and doesn't skirt around the historical truth of things
(no matter how good or bad). There is one episode that just has my in floods of
tears but despite being a pretty emotional person it is testament to how
brilliant the show is. My only complaint is the serious variations in volume,
you'll need your remote in your hand throughout, one minute there's whispering
that you can't hear a word of and next there's explosions all over!

J: Being a
bit of a history nerd I love stuff to do with World War 2. Band of Brothers
paints a brilliant picture of the war from the point of view of Easy Company,
taking you from their deployment to the end of the war. It shows that it wasn't
as clearly defined as you may believe. There was right and wrong on both sides.
You find yourself completely absorbed in the program and it tugs at the heart
strings. The liberation of the concentration camp always gets Lauren weeping.
Always! The only fault with the series...be prepared to be riding the volume buttons...there's
lots of whispering...then lots of banging and shooting and shouting...then lots
of whispering...then lots of banging and shooting and shouting. Still awesome
though!

House

When
unusual medical cases can't be solved they're handed over to the unsociable yet
brilliant head of the diagnostic department, Dr Gregory House.

L: House was the first TV series I got into, I probably
started watching at around the end of season 4 (there are 8 seasons in total)
after protesting for quite some time that I wouldn't like it. After that I was
hooked I watched all the episodes from the beginning then each time a new
season came out on DVD Josh and I would rush out to get it. It's a series that
Josh and I return to time after time for easy viewing. If you've never seen
House I strongly recommend giving it a go. A lot of the episodes do follow the
same pattern but it's never boring thanks to the cast and House's interesting
ways. The season finale's are always pretty good too, my favourite's have to be
the end of season 4, the end of season 5, the end of season 7 and pretty much
the whole season 8!

J: The first big American TV series I watched, House has
always been great TV. A lot of the episodes are quite formulaic: patient comes
in, House and the team discuss it, House says its one thing, patient gets
worse, House does some thinking and cane twirling and eventually has his eureka
moment and solves the case just in time. But it's not the patient of the week
that makes the show interesting, its the overall story-arc of House and his
misanthropic relationships with people that make the show compelling viewing.
Plus House is kind of a role model...he's happy alone, he does what he wants,
when he wants without thinking of the consequences or worrying much about
anything at all ever. I wanna be more like that!

Homeland

When
prisoner of war Nicholas Brody is rescued from Iraq, CIA agent Carrie Mathison
is the only one that believes he has been 'turned' by the enemy and is now a
threat to American homeland security.

L: When I saw adverts for Homeland I thought it looked pretty
good however Josh was reluctant to watch it with knowing how long TV series can
drag out for. Anyway we gave it a go and were hooked from episode one! Now
though I'm finding it hard to give you my opinion on Homeland. I loved season
one and season two then season 3 started pretty slow and stayed that way for
the most part, however I loved the ending and that, for me is where it should
have ended altogether. Homeland would have been perfect had it been left at
that but there is going to be a fourth season this year and I don't know how I
feel about that, for one (without giving anything away for those of you who
haven't seen it) I don't see where it can go now. Homeland as it is now is a
great show, Homeland with more seasons may not be.

J: I saw adverts for this when it was airing
on Channel 4 and I didn't think it looked too interesting. Lauren seemed to
really like the look of the advert and convinced me to watch it. So we sat down
and watched the first episode and within about two days we had finished the
entire first series. It's addictive viewing and always leaves you on a massive
cliff-hanger. And the added unknown factor of Brody's allegiance to either the
US or Al-Qaida is an added spice. Season two and three slow things down a bit
but it's still great. But the true hero of the show is Saul. He is wise and cool
and understanding and...he's like the Jewish father I never had. Plus his
mighty beard is the thing of legends. Men have gone off to war to fight for
lesser things than Saul's beard. So yeah, a pretty compelling reason to love
Homeland!

If
we could only pick one series you should definitely watch it would be...

Hey, I love your blog (snd lots of the same TV shows too it seems :) ) and wanted to let you know I've nominated you for the Liebster award. Check out my page to find more out about it. www.takingthenicki.blogspot.co.uk Nicki x